Labeling machine for workpieces in upright position



A. E. A. SCHULZ 2,936,921

LABELING MACHINE FOR WORKPIECES IN UPRIGHT POSITION May 17, 1960 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 17, 1957 A1 FRED ELM/Aka At 8597 5010a Jam 3 WATTORNEYS y 7, 1960 A. E. A. SCHULZ 2,936,921

LABELING MACHINE FOR WORKPIECES IN UPRIGHT POSITION Filed Dec. 17, 19574 Sheets-Sheet z X 40 I 33 32m'\ 3/ 777/ T A Q 8 .9 Illllllllllllkl/WEA/TOR:

A LF/PED DU/IRD 41.56392" saw: 2

Ma/55w ll OPIV YS y 1960 A. E. A. SCHULZ 2,936,921

LABELING MACHINE FOR WORKPIECES IN UPRIGHT POSITION Filed Dec. 17, 19574 Sheets-Sheet 5 0 O o 28 i o H lNVE/VTOR: ALFRED 600/1120 ALBERT saw/12flT ORIVEYS y 1960 A. A. SCHULZ 2,936,921

LABELING MACHINE FOR WORKPIECES IN UPRIGHT POSITION Filed. Dec. 17, 19574 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 4

9/---.'. 11 I 5 l 1 E 1 1 i 5" 5 5E I J (1:12! i Ar roe/YE rs UnitedStates Patent Application :Decembsrrfl, :1957,*Serial No. 703,308

' i blaimspriority, application cerman a rir 1, 1951 'The presentinvention relates to a mahinel at 'tii'ng hitherto unknown --speeds'-and dependable a'ction' for labeling of workpieces in upr ightposition by nieans I of a label-distributing drurn rotatingconti'nuous'lyl; around a vertical axis. Thedrum contains severalsuctionsurfaces which-serve to take hp "and to supply one label2,936,921 Patented May 17, 1 960 ice " tainer'and pick up a label. IThis means that the label ":supply-drum'carries 'as many labelcontainers as' it has suction surfaces. The label containersconsequently do not change'their angle toward the suction surfaces.

"However, this "old labeling device cannot attain great 3 '--s'peeds-'for severalreasons and has not been used' in rea'sons 'for slow-speedis' found 'in the control ofthe 7 pivoting action of the suctionsurfaces.

The manner of' directing"the"pivoting action of thesuction-surfaces'"works well-for labeling at slow speeds as wassatisfactory at the time when this device was proposed, but it is"totally unsuited for the highspeeds applied today -in labeling. However,it has not been recognizedto-datethat the long-forgotten devicedescribed above-contains a principle which can serve as 'the' 'basis fora modern high-speed labeling machine.

' A major disadvantage of the above mentioned device consists in thefact that thesuction surface'approaches sat a time, and which pivotaround horizontalaxes. EFor each suction surface, there'is a" labelcontainer attached in such a manner that the suction surface, pivotingfrom its-vertical position toward-its label container, ta'kes up alabel. The pivoting motion of the suction"surface,- dur- *ing' therotation of the label supply drum, fis -directed A known :2 andiprovenseonstmction et -labeling devices q for workpieces in uprightposition, "e:g., for bot t les,:is provided with a label supplydrum-rotatingi-continuous- :ly, on 'whose circumference several.suctiontsurfaces are ilocatedtfor take-up andi-deliveryrof .one oriseverallabels,

During :the rotation of the ;labelzsupply drum, eaehrsu c- '-.-tionsurface :passes ia-label container; located lioutsidetthe label supplydrum, 'and'takes aupwajlalbe'l lby .suction. This "label 'then :lies onathe-sucti'on:surfacewith :its: reverse aside directed routward. Duringthe course iof-zthe rota- -tion, the :suction surface '-witl1 ithe:label-- meets a gluing device 'which also is located outside Ethe:label supply "Here, the 'adhesive is :applied to the reverse-side -ofthe label, and then :thessuction surface with-theaglued "label :isaligned-with :thecontinuously-'nioving workpieces or bottles "inamannersthat the workpieceor--;the-bottle :rolls :olfithesuction surface-and :takes up--the label-etherefrom. Although with. such -known.-labeling-devicesfair1yhigh "speeds can be attained, the latter arelimited by the facts that accurate synchronization complicates themachine and that sufiicient time-must be allowed for the -suctionsurface of the label :supply xdrurn, whilegpassing :the :labelcontainer, topick u a :label. The passing dfithasuc tion surfa'ce zbythe label ,containerrtakes a definite r-minimurn of time which cannot bedecreased inorder to maintain the label' containercontrolled solely byits ownweight which does not assure contact between the suction 'sur-'face'andthe topmost label in the container at high speeds.

lt should-be noted that at the presently used high'spee'ds the suctionsurface'makescoritactwith the label con- :tainer for only fractions of asecond,even when the *tlatter is 'fastened to the label supply drum androtates :together with the suction surface. A dropping action tmerely bygravity,- 'therefore,' is not dependable, especially*ssince'thefsuction'surface usually is-curved, and that contact with theuppermost label in the container 'is not 'assuretl.

The.:piesent invention succeeds for the first time in =improving'alabeling machine of the construction dexscribed in -U.S..Patent 781,333by increasing the labeling speed beyond any speeds hitherto known.

,The present invention teaches an important im- ;provement which effectspivoting of the suction surface fby means =of-the fixed cam and by wayof apositively connectedinechanism which controls pivoting of thesuctionsurface from its-verticalposition upwards toward the'-;1abel"container "which is installed above, 'andwhich,fin

aturn, underthe action of a second cam, likewise fixed,

executesa'verticahmovement toward the upturned suc- -tion= surface.

' dependable action of labehtake up fro'rn its container.

long "time 'ago, it was proposed 2(U5S. Patent 8 1 333 to build alabelin'g device according to a -p'r'in- "ciplewhich isfbasicallYdifferentfrom the 'known" and 'proven construction described above, *in'thatfnot just one single lable contair'ier "is present outside'tliedabel supply drumwhi'ch is" passed bythe several suctionsurfacesin' succession to 'pick up a label. Instead; according *to this oldsuggestion, several labelcont'ainers areattac'hed rigidly to the labelsupply drum-"which, therefore, rotate with the 'label-supply-drum. Eachof these-containers has a suction surface assignedto' it; so-that thesuction surface ean --1i'\ivot 'its'vertical position towards the Ilabel con- The :machine-according to the present invention 'difiers inrespect' -to form "and manner of working from known ;-dev-ices,particularlyby the positive .control'for thepivot- -ing motion of 'thesuction surface toward thelabel container which-assures contact of.thesuction .surfacewith the label which 1is-in front. Furthermore, thecontact attained 'by a positive drive can be carried out with:much-greaterspeed than one effectedzby gravity-fall of the suctionsurface onto the label container.

Another difference'consists in the location of the label "containerswhichno longer are situated below, but in- .stead are installed abovethe positively pivoting suction surfaces. However, in contrast to theknown devices, the label containers are not stationary, but execute averticalmovement, back and forth, which is'synchronized with thepivoting motion ofthe suction surfaces. Each time .that the suctionsurface pivots upward toward the the suction surface returns toits'vertical position, the V label container is raised a little, so thatthe pivot action "'of thesuction surface is unhindered.

spasm:

This manner of pivoting motion and the mode of installation of the labelcontainer above the suction surface entails the further advantage thatin contrast to known devices, the label surface need not pass beyond thecircumference of the label supply drum, when pivoting toward the labelcontainer. This is a simplification in the construction. In the knowndevices, the label containers had to protrude outward beyond thecircumference of the label supply drum, thereby increasing considerablythe moment of inertia of the label supply drum because of the distancefrom the axis of that drum. In contrast thereto, in the machineaccording to the present invention, the label containers are installedat comparatively short distances from the axis of the label supply drum.Moreover, due to the fact that they are attached above the suctionsurfaces, they do not interfere with the transportation of theworkpieces.

The pivoting motion of the suction surfaces as well as the verticalmovement of the label containers are controlled by fixed cams. Boththese fixed cams are mutually synchronized so that the pivoting motionof the suction surface and the vertical movement of the label c ontaineroccur at the correct sequence of time.

Both fixed cams form annular contact surfaces for one roller per cam.One of these rollers is connected with the positively connected drive ofthe suction surface; with the other roller, the label container issupported through'its own weight, by the contact surface of thecorresponding cam. Each label container is fastened to the label supplydrum by means of a link parallelogram which permits vertical movement.

The roller connected with the positive drive for the suction surfacestrikes the latter upward as soon as'it meets a bulge on the contactsurface of the cam. Thereby, the roller moves the positive drive of thesuction surface toward the action of a spring and swings the suctionsurface into the upward position.

The axle of the roller is'fastened to a rod which stands vertically andcan move vertically. This rod turns the suction surface by way of apivoting gear link and a sprocket which is fastened to the pivot axis ofthe suction surface.

, It has been found that it is possible to. label 20,000 workpieces,particularly bottles, per hour with a machine as described. To date, theamount of 18,000 workpieces per hour has not been exceeded. i

Another feature ofthe invention is a safety device. This deviceprevents, the suction surface, in upward position toward the labelcontainer, from moving downward and passing the adhesive dispenser, ifthe suction surface, for any reason, has not picked up a label from thelabel container, or if a key on the conveyor for the workpieces hasascertained that no workpiece is in place, which, if present, wouldreceive a label from that particular suction surface. This measureprevents the application of adhesive to the suction surface itself whenno label is in place, and also the carrying of a glued label when theworkpiece .is not in place.

The safety device comprises an extension of the axle of the'roller whichmoves on the cam, under which a check lever, installed swingably on thelabel supply 'drum, can be placed when the roller has reached itshighest point on the cam, preventing the downward movement ofthe rollerif the corresponding suction surface has not picked up a label or if nocorresponding workpiece is transported to that suction surface.

The check lever is actuated by a stationary electromagnet opposite thelabel supply drum. The armature of the magnet carries a push rod whichpresses the check lever in position upon excitation of the magnet.

There are several possible means of excitation of the electromagnet. Oneconsists in closing the circuit of the magnet by a switch which isactuated by a key which extends into the conveyor for the workpieceswhen no workpiece is present on the particular part of the conveyor. Toavoid lowering of the suction surface when the latter does not pick up alabel from the label container for any reason, a second switch is wiredin parallel to the switch mentioned above. This second switch is closedby a piston built movably into the suction surface when, the suctionsurface does not pick up a label in its position toward the labelcontainer. However, if a label is taken up, the piston is retractedduring the pick-up by the vacuum created on the suction surface andpasses the switch without actuating the same.

Further details are contained in the description of the drawing whichillustrates one embodiment of a bottle labeling machine.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical plan view of the labeling machine accordingto the present invention;

Fig.2 is a longitudinal cross section through the label supply drum; i

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the label supply drum;

Figs. 4 to 6 show a safety device which prevents the pivoting of thelabel supply segment toward the glue applicator if no bottle is present,and

Fig. 7 is a second safety device which prevents pivoting if nolabel ispresent.

As can be seen in Fig. 1, the labeling machine is of the type in whichon a conveyor chain 2, continuously moving over .a table 1, the piecesto be labeled 3 (e.g., bottles, cans, or otherjcylindrical pieces) areconducted past label supply drum 5 which rotates continuously around avertical axis 4. The adhesive isapplied to the label upon rotation ofthe drum by a dispenser 6. The gummed label is taken up by the workpiece(in the drawing: bottle 3) when the label and the piece on the conveyormeet. Worm gear 7 is located beside the conveyor andfacilitates thekeeping of equal distance of the bottles in a known manner.

Figs. 2 and3 illustrate the construction of the label supply drum. Atubular shaft 8 is seated, easily rotatable, on the stationary axis 4.Shaft 8 carries on its lower end, below table 1, a gear 9 by which thedrum is driven. Label drum 5, connected with tubular shaft 8 by springand groove 10, carries on a disc near the circumference a number of (inthis example 10) equally distant label carriers ll'which can be turnedoutward .and are provided with suction ducts. The label carriers areseated in bearing blocks 12 with their axes 13 rotatable and carry agear 14 into which a gear segment 16 meshes, which pivots around an axis15, and which turns gear 14 through an angle of The gear segment isdriven by a push rod 19. The latter is movable vertically and travels bymeans of a roller 17 on a fixed cam'disc 18 underneath the label drum.Rod 19 is locked by means of pin 20 in a fork 21 which is rigidlyconnected with the gear segment.

The labeling drum 5 is provided with a housing 5 which covers cam disc18 and which has slits 5", through which lead the axles 17' of therollers 17 which travel on the cam disc. The axles 17' guide the pushrod.

A compression spring 22,. installed on rod 19, holds the roller 17 inconstant contact with the cam disc 18.

A label container 23, hanging vertically, is installed above each labelcarrier, so that an opening provided on the underside for the take-up ofa label 24 covers exactly the label carrier 11 which is located below,pointing upward. Each label carrier is held by a support 25 which issuspended by means of a link parallelogram 26, on a sleeve 27, fastenedto the tubular shaft 8, whereby a roller 28, seated on the upper end ofthe support, is braced on a stationary cam disc 29, which rests on theaxis 4.

Take-up of a label from the label containers and delivery to the bottleproceeds as follows:

Upon rotation of label drum 5, push rod 19, which moves gear segment 16,is lifted against the pressure of lifted again, while label carrier hasbeen completed, and the cycle is repeated.

55' spring 22in sector "I ,tFigQS.) bytmeanso fcam disc 18 (Fig. 2),thereby causing ,pivoting of label carrier 11 J by-90, so thatitssuctionsurface'points' to the lower Zope'ning ofthe-label. container.Theslatter is situatedahigh Tenough :to pivot without obstruction.Thereafter, label cdntainer'23 in sector :II islowered by camdisc 29, I

assess;

A. scco'nd safetyalevice-is'fshownin.Eig..7. rasaeviw' [gets interactionwhen the label carrier u a label.

'locate'dlon the upper endofaxis 4, and-carrying support *25'i'withroller 28. .Labelcontainer 4231s loweredlsofar "that the lowestlabelintheiopeningfof the container-lies on the suction surfaceof the labelcarrier 11. The label is sucked onto the surface'and held in'place by asuction source, not shown.

A duct v144. connecting the suctionop'enings 4 situated transversely"'to 'the"s'winging"axis ,1

48 whichscloses a current leading wither-magnet When a label 24 issucked from the container and the openings on the suction surfaces arecovered, piston 45 is retracted into the duct inversely to the springaction,

When roller 28 reaches sector III, it travelsonto whereby the labelcontainer is 11, carrying the label by suction, is turned by 90,carrying the label turned -raised part of track 29,

outward, by lowering of push rod ,19 on the cam disc 18.

The height of the label drum is adjustable in attain the correctposition when the label container 23 is lowered for take-up of a label,so that contact'beorder to I tween the label with the suction surface oflabel carrier 11 is assured. As shown in Fig. 2, for this purpose thetubular shaft 8 is enclosed in a hub 30 below the label drum. This hubrests solidly on table plate 1. Hub 30 has a thread 32 on the outside,onto which a handwheel 33 has been screwed, which in turn is connectedto the cam disc 18 above, by' 'means of a linkage 34. Cam disc 18 alsois fastened to hub 30 and ismovable axially. The label drum is seated,with insertion of a bearing 35, on the upper front end of cam disc 18.Through rotation of the consequently, the label supply drum can beadjusted most accurately to the position a label from the labelcontainer.

hand wheel 33, cam disc 18, and,

best suited for the take-up of I The labeling machine is provided withsafety devices which prevent pivoting of the label carrier when a bottleis missing on the conveyor, or when, for any reason, no label has beentaken by the carrier. Pivoting of the label carrier 11 can be preventedby a bolt 36, which is situated on the drum housing 5 below the slits 5"and which is rotatable. Bolt 36 is connected with aswivel arm 37,located on the same axis, andis regulated by impact on a stop.

On the conveyor 2 (Figs. 1 and 4), a feeler 38 is rotatably positionedin a known manner opposite the distributor screw 7 for the bottles 3which extends into the track of the conveyor and which is pressed downwhen a bottle passes it. Thereby, an electric switch 39 is actuatedwhich opens a circuit tothe magnet 40'which is installed below therotating-label supply drum'on table 1, so that a rod 41 is pushed backand bolt 36 is not actuated (Fig. 4). I

If a bottle is missing in the track of the distributor screw 7, feeler38 is not actuated and switch 39 remains closed. Rod 41,- seated in thetrack of bolts 36 on drum housing 5, swings, during the turning of thedrum, bolt 36 into the passage of axle 17 of roller 17, so that thelatter cannot follow the cam 18, any longer and supports push rod 19 inraised position. Label carrier 11 stops below the label container 23,and thus passes the adhesive dispenser without making contact with thesame.

The label carrier passes the point of delivery of the label to thebottle, if present, but remains in the upper position since no bottle isin place. The swinging lever 37 meets a stud 42 which protrudes into thetrack (Fig. 6), pushes bolt 36 backinto its initial position andreleases the push rod.

so that switch 48 is opened, the'current interrupted and swingingrotation of the label supply drum 5. c

If, however, no label is sucked up, piston 45 is not influenced by thesuction air and remains in the position which closes thecircuit. Themagnet holds rod 41 in the track of swinging lever 37 (Fig. 5) and locksthe track of push rod 19, so that label carrier 11 is not pivotedoutward.

"Fig. 1 shows the position of magnet 40 on table 1. The bottles 3,carried on conveyor 2', by means of the distributor screw 7, pass feeler38 and are rolled off a stationary wall 49 which stands beside theconveyor and is made of foam rubber, when they meet'label carrier 11which pivots out from the label supply drum 5, said bottles therebytaking up label 24. As the labeled bottles pass along, theyare rolledthrough a passageconsisting of a fixed wall 50 and an endless belt 51,serving as support. This concludes the labeling action.

WhatI claim is:

1. In a machine for labeling workpieces in upright position by suctionoperated means: a machine base; a vertically disposed shaft memberfixedly secured to said base; a drum rotatable about said shaft;conveyor means for workpieces, movable adjacent said drum; a pluralityof spaced label carriers pivotally secured on the. periphery of saiddrum, said, label carriers being provided with suction surfaces; meansfor maintaining said label carriers in a verticalposition with thesuction surfaces directed upwardly; first cam means secured to said basebelow said drum and operatively connected with said label carriers forhorizontally tilting the latter at predeter-'- mined intervals so thatthe suction surfaces face out,- wardly of said drum and contact theworkpieces; and a mechanism for supplying labels to said carriers whenthese are in a vertical position, said mechanism comprising second fixedcam means secured to. said shaft above said drum, a' pluralityofvertically movable label containers and parallelogram linkage securingsaid' label containers to saidv drum above said label carriers andoperably engaging with said second cam means, both said cam meansoperable in timed relationship with one another for lowering the labelcontainers to contact the suction surfaces of said label carriers whenthese are in an'upright position and for raising said containers out ofthe path of said label carriers when the latter are tilted toahorizontal position.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said meansfor maintainingthe label carrier in a vertical position comprise a bearing blocksecured to said drum, a shaft to which the label carrier is secured, apinion secured to said shaft, a rack engaging with said pinion a pushrod operatively connected to said'rack, said push rod having a flangedend disposed below said drum and .a spring interposed between saidflanged end and said drum.

labil carrier 11, raises a pistbn45fWhicHprQtriidesoiitXvEid and is'provided witha stud 46. j 'Piston 45- is constantly pressed out'ward'by a spring niereby actuating Ia' sivitch' lever 37 (Fig. 4) is notactuated during the;

epeepai 7, 4. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said second cammeans comprise a circular horizontally disposed disc formed with a camsurface and a plurality of rollers secured to said parallelogram linkageand engaging with said cam surface. a

v 5. The machine according to claim 1 further provided with-means formanually adjusting the height of said first cam means and said drum in avertical direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Edson12111.31, 190s Cook et a1 Apr. 21, 1953

